Who determines size?

Sorry for the delay in posting blogs. I have been recovering from Illness number 2…

Do you wake up in the morning and turn on the tap to fill up your coffee maker?
Before you go to work do you turn on the shower and let the water flow for a minute until the water gets the right temperature?
Do you get in your car to go to work? Could you, get in a car, if you needed to go somewhere?
When you want to make dinner do you open the refrigerator? Pull something out and proceed to cook it in your electric oven? Or into the microwave that is also electric? Do you appreciate that there is food to pull out of the refrigerator? Or if you couldn’t afford to buy food that your government in some shape or form could offer help?
Do you read a book when you are bored? Do you utilize the quality educational institutions that are in your area? Have you ever seen their incredible libraries, WITH books? Do you take it for granted that pedestrians are given the right of way? Do you read these questions and shrug while thinking that you don’t need to worry because, you and your family, doesn’t have to worry about these things?


A few facts to think about…

HALF of the population of Africa is BELOW the poverty line. BUT, Africa only accounts for 10% of the WORLD’S POLULATION. That works out to Africa accounting for only 5%..Read that…FIVE percent of the world’s poverty.

If you want to call yourself lucky or privileged perhaps you have every right.

As I have lived in developing countries before I am sensitive to the fact that I have more than others…but as I live in Uganda I am faced with reality and I am appreciative that I am able to experience this and understand what is really and truly needed to live a comfortable and pain free life, so in MY life, I can work hard to develop and implement programs and policies that will eliminate extreme poverty…


To lead a comfortable and pain free life in my opinion means having the THREE “basic” life requirements…FOOD, SHELTER, MEDICINE…

The Haven…the escape from Kampala…

My sanity was returned to me last week!

One of the members of my Rotary club here is a retired German ambassador to Uganda and he learned that I was interested in rain water harvesting and invited me to visit a friend of his who is living near Jinja, 2 hours drive east of Kampala (For those who regularly turn in, Jinja is where I got my first Jigger!!!)

As we entered the gates to “The Haven” I was in awe of this beautiful little “resort”. A younger German ex-patriot has built his wonderfully designed resort to be completely eco-friendly.

The WHOLE place has about eight independent bungalows that are round and have views of the Nile River. All the electricity comes from solar power and the water is all harvested rainwater. Picture this…a round one story building with a wonderful papyrus roof, but built into the very top (out of sight) is a empty concrete swimming pool in the shape of a funnel…that water runs down and is conserved into a huge 10 000 gallon tank. This water is then filtered in the holding tank and is pumped into smaller tanks when needed.

He has a well and a generator ONLY for back up.

I am so impressed by this mans creativity…he is a electrician with a Masters degree and obviously a lot of talent and resourcefulness. It’s wonderful that he has constructed this in Ugandan without destroying or using up any of Uganda’s resources.

Please take a moment to check out his website www.thehaven-uganda.com

Now.,, there is no way I can describe this view, so have a look for yourself.

A day away from Kampala has done a world of good. I feel refreshed and de-stressed.
I want to head out to the village and spend a month on a project…I think it would be great for me to get out of Kampala.